To the average person, ‘Pepper Pod’ sounds like clever wordplay that reinforces commitment and a unit. But in military speak, it’s much more than that; it’s a concept of having each other’s back when advancing toward the enemy. It’s a level of profound support, a “to-the-ends-of-the-earth” loyalty, and is precisely what this dragon boat team of women veterans from Chelsea, Quebec is known for.
From fostering teamwork and competitiveness, to finding inner strength, dragon boating has endless benefits. Whether it is survivor boats or those struggling with mental health, the power of paddling impacts on many physical and psychological levels. For those transitioning to civilian life after a military career, this was exactly what many were seeking.
As a retreat center providing programs for women veterans, dragon boating is the newest addition to The Pepper Pod’s roster of activities and we were honored to speak to some of their paddlers.
Creating a Tribe
When Sandra Perron retired after nineteen years in the military, it was challenging to reinvent herself. She experienced loneliness and a constant feeling of disconnect, and knew she was not alone.
As Canada's first female infantry officer, Perron understood the need to connect with a group of similarly-minded women. Like her, many had experienced isolating and difficult careers and needed a community where they could be themselves. After months of strategizing and fundraising, The Pepper Pod retreat centre for women veterans was launched in a cozy setting in the Gatineau Hills.
Finding Your Own People
The Pepper Pod is a safe space for women veterans to connect over workshops, collective meals, sporting activities, healing and growth. They have created bonds of sisterhood and trust often by being vulnerable and through sharing common fears and memories of lived experiences.
The retreat centre welcomes women veterans or soon-to-be veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, as well as women military spouses. All are accepted for who and how they are, as well as where they are in their journey.
Healing and starting anew can be difficult and is certainly not a linear process. As many have never had the opportunity to process their experiences, The Pepper Pod offers an opportunity to help them mitigate challenges and reduce barriers to become their best selves moving forward.
A Legend in Her Own Time
The movie Out Standing is based on Perron’s 2017 bestseller Out Standing in the Field: A Memoir by Canada's First Female Infantry Officer, and will be in theatres in 2025. In it, Perron recounts her “fight against a system of institutional sexism,” with her memoir “serv[ing] as proof that the spirit of a true hero cannot be bent or broken.”
Perron’s harrowing story sheds light on the world of the Canadian military, which is still marked by challenges and pervasive sexual discrimination. In spite of numerous obstacles, she has had a rewarding military career in the legendary Van Doos, le Royal 22ième Régiment.
In what can only be described as an incredible coincidence, actress Nina Kiri (known for her performance in The Handmaid's Tale) who portrays Perron, had been a baby in Serbia during the time when the latter was stationed as a peacekeeper in the region in the 1990s; a fitting tribute to the soldier’s legacy.
Warriors on the Water
The Pepper Pod’s Executive Director and Team Captain Cathy Priestman recalls that the original impetus to starting a dragon boat team in 2022 was to bring women veterans together in a new way that encouraged fitness and friendship.
After weeks of practicing, they had their debut at the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race. They earned a respectable bronze in the Women’s Division D (“We went bonkers”, recalled Priestman. “You would have thought it was an Olympic gold!”) Through determination and experience however, they accelerated to Division B this past summer, smashing all their past records and again winning bronze in the higher division.
Why Dragon Boating?
Paddling has proven to be extremely healing and critical for the recovery process for individuals with challenges, be they physical, mental or psychological. Some veterans have a unique combination of these struggles in addition to invisible disabilities such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dragon boating provides individuals with a goal and the need to prove themselves, knowing that their teammates are counting on them.
It also lends itself well to veterans; according to the Vancouver Lake Crew Disabled Veterans Water Sports Program, “the boats can re-create the sense of shared mission that is a big part of military life.” As a paddler from the UK’s well-known Purple Warriors team reflected, “I’m a better person…because I put all my aggression and everything [from my past] into that paddle.”
Paddler Spotlights
A New Way to Belong: Cathy Priestman
With twelve years of experience in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Priestman understands firsthand some of the stresses Pepper Pod members may experience.
She recalled how some veterans struggle to find their fit in civilian life and can become isolated and withdrawn. For a former medic who served in Afghanistan, the Pepper Pod became a safe space. She mentioned to Priestman that she felt she no longer needed to wear a mask. “I can do this. These are my people. I don’t have to explain anything [like I do to the general public] – they already understand it.”
Priestman is aware that small considerations can have a significant impact on the team and the Pepper Pod community to accommodate needs and minimize stressors.
For instance, she intentionally chose to have a woman coach to avoid inadvertently triggering memories of a man yelling orders. At races, there are several printed schedules placed around the tent and continuous time announcements to keep everyone on track. They also have a ‘quiet tent’ for anyone who might require time away during a gruelling competition.
Another unique aspect is using the paddlers’ military experience to their benefit. The team was having trouble with synchronization until someone yelled, “‘Hey, this is just like marching!’ And the switches clicked in everyone’s head,” Priestman recalled. “You felt the boat lift and fly forward.”
Long Live Strong Women
Two years ago, Priestman was diagnosed with breast cancer. It took a physical toll on her, and she resigned herself to sitting on the sidelines to keep watch over everyone’s bags.
When a paddler was absent from practice, the coach bellowed, “Priestman- grab a paddle and get in!” This was exactly the impetus she needed, reinforcing that she had a valued seat in the boat. The team dedicated that season to her, and she never looked back.
“A Therapeutic Spa for the Mind”: Susan Smith
Although the 2024 Ottawa Tim Hortons Dragon Boat competition took place on a rainy weekend (June 22-23), the energy could not be dampened. At a certain point, teammates started randomly dancing in the rain, inspiring others to follow suit, emblematic of the freedom they felt.
“We bonded a lot that weekend, two days together in a waterlogged tent!” Susan Smith laughed. (Priestman added, “It was 1500 degrees out there, and half the boat is menopausal.”)
Smith is one of the more experienced paddlers on the boat, with her journey in dragon boating starting after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Having heard about the power of paddling, she looked for a team to join when she returned to Ottawa from Colorado the following year. The Fetal Attraction team comprised of military spouses, veterans and nurses fit the bill and she credits it as being key for her recovery journey.
She was therefore excited to hear that The Pepper Pod was starting a team. “[The group] was truly life altering for me.”
The camaraderie and new friendships formed have provided The Pepper Pod paddlers with the opportunity to share lived experiences from their military careers. “Sometimes you find inner strength, knowing others are there for you. People can be surprised by their own resilience.”
Looking for a Fit
Originally from southern Ontario, “I didn't have a clue what to do with my life, so I joined the military in 1985,” said Smith. She completed several missions as a military nurse, including a stint overseas in Germany.
While there have been important advancements in diversity and opportunity in the military, it continues to be “an old boys club,” she affirmed. Discrimination and sexual abuse, double standards and favouritism can be subtle but frequent micro-aggressions. Women may be afraid of drawing attention to themselves and inadvertently confirming stereotypes or fear different treatment.
“There is a battle within our own military, not just with other countries.”
Smith continued, “Women in the military often put things into a box. It can affect your life if they are not dealt with.” Until she attended one of The Pepper Pod sessions, she had not realized the degree to which she had been harbouring repressed emotions. “I didn’t know what to expect going into the Pepper Pod ‘Lifeshop’ – to be honest, I thought I was going to a spa weekend!” she laughed.
“But it was a spa for the mind.”
The Lifeshop Program provided the opportunity to open the boxes that she and others had kept closed for years.
Always Finding a Way: Michèle Simpson
It was a devastating blow in 1995 when Michèle Simpson was medically released from the Canadian Armed Forces due to hearing deterioration. As she had planned on a long military career – not just eight years – she was at a complete loss when it was cut short.
There is a measure of grief in changing plans. “You have to reinvent yourself, and it’s not easy.”
An additional challenge was living with hearing loss in a society that emphasizes oral communication. She often felt left out when people would mumble comments or not face her so she could lipread. “It can be very isolating,” she shared. “I often feel forgotten about.”
When she read that The Pepper Pod was starting a dragon boat team, she was intrigued but hesitant about not being able to hear the coach’s directives or getting her hearing aids wet.
To her relief, the team was extremely accommodating, facing her or tapping her leg to share instructions such as a power-series, a finish, or collectively yelling the pacing speed. “It was so touching they would do that.”
One of Us
But the ultimate gift was yet to come.
At the Ottawa competition, Priestman distributed trophies to every paddler on the team. Simpson received the “Super Rocket” award and was astonished when it was presented to her in American Sign Language (ASL).
This attention to detail and inclusiveness in action is emblematic of the special nature of The Pepper Pod.
Priestman recalled, “Michelle just burst into tears and said, ‘I spend much of my life on the periphery, but you guys never make me feel that way. You make me feel so seen and included,’ and I responded, ‘and you are.’”
Simpson has since participated in more of The Pepper Pod’s events and workshops, recalling one course called Beyond Trauma. “I was scared because there are big feelings I’ve been carrying around for a while.” In the military, expressing feelings is not often encouraged and can result in buried emotions and unresolved issues. She is finally shedding this burden and moving forward.
Never Alone in a Group
The Pepper Pod paddlers are warriors in person but also in the dragon boat. Together, they have found ways to stay fit, heal and transition to the next step in their life journeys.
As a team, they have also built a community that supports them through challenging times. For they are Pepper Podders and they’ll always have one another’s backs, both on and off the water.